Egremont Crab Fair - History Introduction Situated on the West Cumbrian coast, only a few miles from the western fringe of the Lake District National Park, is the small market town of Egremont. Every year the townsfolk of Egremont hold an annual celebration after harvest time, known as The Crab Fair. The events held are traditional and do not involve the mechanised swings and roundabouts which became part of so many fairs from the late nineteenth century. The modern-day fair is held on the third Saturday in September and is eagerly awaited by the whole community. The Crab Fair was first held in 1267. It is believed that the traditional fair has been held continuously since this time, except for unavoidable interruptions during the War years. The Lord of Egremont started a tradition of giving away crab apples, from where the fair gets its name. The tradition continues to this day with the Parade of the Apple Cart, where apples are thrown to the crowds which throng the Main Street. The modern day fair commences with a number of sporting events. Cumberland wrestling, an ancient and traditional lakeland sport, features prominently.

The rest of the day's amusements include the celebrated World Gurning Championship where contestants pull ugly faces through a horse collar or 'braffin', a pipe smoking event and the singing of hunting songs. History of the Crab Fair In Medieval times centuries ago, after harvesting time which usually ended in September, serfs to the Manor of Egremont gathered wild fruits (plentiful in South Cumberland), and with their vegetables, corn and animals went to pay their dues to the Lord of the Manor. From this sudden congregation of serfs, the opportunity was taken to celebrate the completion of harvesting for yet another year and to forget their poverty and tribulations by taking part in a series of crude but arousing and sporting games. In 1267 King Henry III granted a Royal Charter to Thomas de Multon (1247-1294), Lord of the Barony of Egremont, for a weekly market on Wednesdays and an annual fair to be held on the 7th, 8th and 9th of September.

A modern translation of the original Charter is as follows: "One market every week, upon Wednesday, with one fair every year by three days enduring the eve, the day of, and the morrow after the Nativity of St. Mary the Virgin, and to be quite free from suit of the County Courts and the Hundred Courts, and from all fines and americiaments there, and the tolls within the seignory of Copeland of ancient custom." The original Charter is held in the British Museum in London. The granting of a Royal Charter, which freed the Barony from local fines and taxes, was one way by which the King could raise money. It also gave the town some degree of self-government and attracted people from the neighbouring countryside. A religious festival was originally held on the three days mentioned in the 1267 Charter. The feast of the Nativity of St. Mary the blessed virgin, held on September 8, was observed as Lady day in harvest. Therefore the 7th, 8th and 9th of September mark "the eve, the day of, and the morrow after" the Nativity. However as time progressed, the actual date of the Crab Fair has changed.

In 1752 a new Calendar was officially introduced into the United Kingdom which corrected an error of eleven days in the previous, centuries old Calendar. Parliament enacted that September 3 1752 should be reckoned as September 14. The three days of the fair then became the 18th, 19th and 20th of September. During the three days of festivities the burgesses of Egremont were allowed to sell ale without a license. As time progressed the fair was reduced to a one day event held on the 19th September. This was probably necessary because of the industrialisation of Egremont which meant that the townspeople had less leisure time. In 1800 the town was thriving. Tanneries, corn mills, sailcloth mills, flint mills and flax mills had all been built alongside the river Ehen, from which they obtained their motive power. In 1889 the date of the fair was changed again to September 18th. According to a local newspaper the change was due to the organisers wanting to hold the fair on the same day as the local cattle market.

This is supported by a number of other sources which describe the sale of cattle and other animals at the fair as being immensely profitable both to the town and to the neighbouring farmers who would rent out their land for grazing. Nowadays, with many people working a five day week and the weekend being their time of leisure, the fair is held on a Saturday. It has become traditional to hold the fair on the third Saturday of September. Crab Fair Events Little is known about the events of the Crab Fair until the nineteenth century. Cock fighting and bull baiting, nasty but popular lakeland sports, were popular attractions at the local fairs, especially in medieval times. People were less squeamish then - it could be said more brutal. Both sports continued until 1835 when they were prohibited by law. A typical Crab Fair in the nineteenth century would begin at dawn with the erection of the greasy pole "at the fish stone by the Market Cross". The pole was thirty foot tall and greased with lard. The objective was to climb to the top and retrieve the prize. Originally the prize was a hat, probably a top hat. The winner, normally an agile youth, paraded around the town wearing his prize.

In 1852 the prize became a side of mutton which, if not won by the end of the day, was cut up and divided amongst the poor. The tradition continues to this day, and in addition to the main prize, ribbons are now attached to the pole which can be grabbed from lower levels and exchanged for gifts in the town. The next event of the day was the cattle market. The cattle were allowed to stand in the Market Place, keeping them to the sidewalks thus leaving the centre of the road open to the public. The cattle were not tied up but were attended by drovers, whilst the sheep were penned. The pens were always to be found in front of the public houses frequented by the flock tenders. Any damage done to the sides of the street was repaired by the Borough Sergeant. Tolls were of course extracted by the officers of the Borough Court on behalf of the Lord of the Borough. In the afternoon of 'Fair Day' the town relaxed with a succession of sporting activities, some being ancient and traditional. The Sports always commenced after the "scattering of apples" at Midday, now known as the Parade of the Apple Cart.

This event has always caused great merriment amongst the spectators, with youngsters scrambling for the apples. In earlier years cakes were also scattered. It is not known when this spectacle originated, but it is thought that it was a celebration of the completion of the harvest when crab apples and other wild fruits were gathered and used by the serfs to help pay their dues to the Manor of Egremont. The story goes that the Lord of the Manor would scatter crab apples amongst the juveniles of the town. Crab apples are too sour for the modern taste, therefore sweeter varieties of apple are used these days. A cart or wagon loaded with apples is driven along the Main Street with several men on the back throwing apples into the crowd. Typical sports of the nineteenth century are described below. Some of these events survive to this day. Street Racing The street racing followed the scattering of apples. Races were held on the Main Street between the Kings Arms and the Blue Bell Inn. Prizes included money, loaves and other commodities. Cumberland Wrestling The origins of this unusual type of wrestling are obscure, but it is reputed to have been introduced in the 10th century by Norse-Irish settlers.

Each wrestler locks his hands behind his opponent's back - this is called takin' hod (taking hold). The object is to lift your opponent up, then throw him to the ground so that he lands face upwards. Costumes worn by the wrestlers are richly embroidered and prizes may be awarded for the best outfit. Quoiting and Snap Pitching In the middle of each public house back yard was a peg called a hob. This was used for the quoiting events which were similar to modern day quoits. Snap pitching, which was also known as Brass pitchin', also used the hob. Each pitcher had his own pair of solid brassies which were like upturned saucers and were thrown at the hob from a distance of 7 yards. The nearest pitcher each time was awarded a point. The number of points required to win is not clear. The prizes for these events were substantial, for example a longwall clock and a silver tea urn. Heavy bets were also wagered on these competitions. The Cuddy This was a horse race where the horses had to canter around a course. Horse and pony racing was very popular in the early nineteenth century, with a number of flat and hurdle races being documented.

However the racing of horses slowly faded during the late nineteenth century, perhaps with the introduction of the motor car or the popularity of cycling. Bicycle Racing These were introduced in the late nineteenth century. Races were held over one and a half miles and two miles. Hound Dog Trials This sport continues to be very popular throughout the Lake District. It is a dog race where the hounds have to follow a trail of aniseed scent across the fells. Several other events are documented but are no longer held, such as quoiting, sack racing, the hat race (where men ran after a hat) and the egg race. After the merriment of the afternoon came the evening events, many of which survive to this day: Pipe Smoking Each competitor is given a clay pipe filled with black twist tobacco and a lighted candle or taper. The person who smokes his tobacco in the quickest time is the winner. Eating Biskeys and Treacle This was a popular competition a hundred years ago but the event is no longer held. Biskeys are teacakes, and these were soaked in treacle. The winner was the first competitor to whistle a tune as soon as he had gobbled up the biskey and treacle.

On one occasion, when the excitement was at its height, an exuberant spectator grabbed the large bowl of treacle and turned it upside down over the head of one of the officials, covering him from head to foot with treacle. One can only speculate as to whether this is the reason that the event is no longer held. This involves singing hunting, comic or sentimental songs in the local West Cumbrian dialect. Gurning To gurn means to 'snarl like a dog, look savage, distort the countenance'. This competition is extremely popular and is the highlight of the whole Crab Fair for most people. Contestants have to pull a grotesque face through a horse collar, known as a braffin. Through the centuries the event has been reported by newspapers under various titles. In 1852 it was described as Grinn for tobacco, in 1884 it was more colloquially known as Grinning for 'bacca. In the twentieth century it became Gurning through a braffin and is now known as the World Gurning Competition. The origin of gurning is obscure.

It is reported to have originated from the mockery of the village idiot - the townsfolk would throw a horse's collar over him and make him pull funny faces in exchange for a few pints of ale. How much truth lies in this story is questionable. Another stories include when a drunken farmer arrived home to find a most discontented wife, he shouted "stop gurning, woman!" and thrust a horse collar over her head. At this her facial expressions, to say nothing of the language, became even worse! The use of tobacco became common in the 17th century, and was either chewed or powdered and inhaled as snuff. It is probable that Grinning for 'bacca originated from these times - certainly it was described as an ancient tradition by the Cumberland Paquet in 1852. The evening amusements, along with much singing and dancing until the small hours of the morning, brought the Crab Fair to an end for another year. In the Crab Fair programme of 1884 we learn that the fair was recognised as a charitable institution. Tea, bread, etc. were distributed amongst the poor and the war widows of the town.

In these times it was common for donations of hats, ties, toys, etc. to be given by local tradesmen to be used as prizes for the various events. Living Gargoyles – the Medieval Art of Gurning (or How Ugliness Illuminates Beauty) David Clayton Believe it or not, there is an annual face-pulling competition that takes place in Cumbria in northern England that can trace its history back in a continuous line to the 13th century. The art of face pulling is called ‘gurning’. Every year there is a competition at the annual fair in the Cumbrian town of Egremont. What is now called the gurning world championship has been held at the Egremont ‘crab’ fair since 1269. I have a personal connection here as as members of my family, on my mother’s side, own a farm there (no jokes about how you can see the similarity from my photographs of me please!). If one compares the faces of the gurners with cathedral gargoyles we can see similarities – I managed to make the pairings shown below. When you look at the faces of these champions, the gargoyles don’t look so fantastic.

So compare the above with the gargoyle below. When I look at the medieval carvings I always think that we can be certain that the masons of the 12th century had a pretty good sense of humour! Living Gargoyles – the Medieval Art of Gurning (or How Ugliness Illuminates Beauty) — The Way of Beauty The Way of Beauty Living Gargoyles – the Medieval Art of Gurning (or How Ugliness Illuminates Beauty) by David Clayton on June 28, 2013 Believe it or not, there is an annual face-pulling competition that takes place in Cumbria in northern England that can trace its history back in a continuous line to the 13th century. The art of face pulling is called ‘gurning’. Every year there is a competition at the annual fair in the Cumbrian town of Egremont. What is now called the gurning world championship has been held at the Egremont ‘crab’ fair since 1269.

I have a personal connection here as as members of my family, on my mother’s side, own a farm there (no jokes about how you can see the similarity from my photographs of me please!). If one compares the faces of the gurners with cathedral gargoyles we can see similarities – I managed to make the pairings shown below. When you look at the faces of these champions, the gargoyles don’t look so fantastic. So compare the above with the gargoyle below. When I look at the medieval carvings I always think that we can be certain that the masons of the 12th century had a pretty good sense of humour! We can compare the two below too! and…. Okay, I will admit I have no evidence whatsoever that there is a connection historically between between gurning and gargoyles, this is just fanciful thinking on my part….but you never know! It does raise the question however about the role of ugliness in the culture. If beauty is good, and ugliness is the absence of beauty, isn’t it always bad? Some of you may be saying, is this the Way of Beauty or the Way of Ugliness?

In fact ugliness has its place in the creation of the beautiful. It was recognised by commentators in the middle ages that beauty was a quality that could be apprehended as a good in itself. However, they recognised also, that our ability to see what is beautiful could be enhanced by contrast with ugliness. For those of us who through our fallen state might not be attracted to what is good in itself, the contrast with what is bad might illuminate it for us. John Scotus Eriugena wrote of this principle of contrast in the 9th century: “For anything that is considered deformed in itself as part of a whole not only becomes beautiful in the totality, because it is well ordered, but is also a cause of Beauty in general; thus wisdom is illuminated by the relation to foolishness, knowledge by comparison with ignorance, which is merely imperfection and wanting, life by death, light by the opposition of shadows, worthy things by the lack of praise for them, and to be brief, all virtues only win praise by comparison with the opposite vices but without this comparison they would not be worthy of praise…As is the case with a beautiful painting, for example.

For all that is ordered according to the design of divine Providence is good, beautiful and just. Indeed what could be better than the fact that the comparison of opposites lets us sing the ineffable praises of both the universe and the Creator?’ De divisione naturae, V; quoted in The History of Beauty by Umberto Eco. Now I know why beautiful people like to have me around. I flattered myself it was for other reasons, but I’m wondering now if my presence makes them look even more attractive! For any who are interested, a modern champion describes this ancient art in the video below: Woman collapses moments after pulling the funniest face in the world Woman collapses moments after pulling the funniest face in the world The winner of the Women"s World Gurning Championship was rushed to hospital at the weekend after she collapsed at the end of her performance. Anne Woods was taken to West Cumberland Hospital moments after triumphing at the Egremont Crab Fair in Cumbria. The 62-year-old"s four-minute performance appeared to take its toll and she suddenly fell to the ground outside the compeition room after being declared the winner.

Male champion gurner Tommy Mattinson, who won the world title for the 12th time last weekend, said: "I came outside to get some fresh air and Anne was lying on the floor. "I got help immediately and she was rushed to hospital. "Being on stage is physically exerting and it also gets very very hot inside the competition room. "Anne is getting on a bit now, and this won"t have helped." Organiser of the gurning championships Callum Scott added: "Anne was kept in hospital overnight. "I think it was maybe too much excitement for her, or the room was too stuffy." Ms Woods was unable to collect her winning prize, so a member of her family did it on her behalf. She was released from Whitehaven"s West Cumberland Hospital later on Sunday though. The town of Egremont is believed to have held its famous Crab Fair every since 1267. Held on the third week in September, the annual event culminates in the famous World Gurning Championships. Whitehaven | Your Guide to Whitehaven | Book Accommodation - Golakes Culture and Heritage Whitehaven The maritime port of Whitehaven was once the third largest in the UK with trade links all over the world.

The wealth of Georgian architecture led to Whitehaven being listed as a ‘gem town' and voted one of the top 10 seaside resorts in the UK. Today the town's harbour enhanced by nautical sculptures, dramatic lighting effects and a brand new marina, is the focus for spectacular maritime events. St Nicholas' Church on Lowther Street is the resting place of Mildred Warner Washington (grandmother of George Washington, first president of the United States) who died in 1701. The site of her burial is not known, but the parish register records her death. In the mid 18th century, Whitehaven was used as a template for the expansion of New York. Book Your Stay Surrounding Area Egremont Egremont still celebrates its medieval roots having once been a part of the Barony of Egremont. One of the high points of the year being the annual Crab Fair, incorporating the internationally famous World Gurning Championship. St Bees St Bees Head is the most westerly point in Cumbria and sheltering underneath is the village of St Bees.

According to legend, it was to this bay that St Bega arrived from Ireland, building a nunnery that later evolved into St Bees Priory. Beckermet Within this rural landscape of pastoral fields and wooded dells, it comes as a surprise to encounter the high-tech complex of Sellafield, Britain's nuclear reprocessing facility. In dramatic contrast to this ultra-modern spectacle the outlying villages of Beckermet and Haile quietly display their wealth of antiquities dating back over 1000 years. Cleator Moor The large ‘new' town of Cleator Moor was built to house migrant workers in the area in search of work. The area around Cleator contained rich deposits of iron ore. Once ironworks were established at Cleator Moor (1842) and Workington, a network of railways followed to transport the produce to local furnaces. Sections of the old railway line are still visible, with parts around Rowrah and Cleator Moor now forming a cycleway. Culture and Heritage In 1600 Whitehaven was a small coastal village dependent on fishing, farming and salt-making, until the wealthy Lowther family began to capitalise on the rich seams of coal in the area.

Several pits were sunk around Whitehaven to extract the 'black gold' and in some places the westerly dipping coal seams were followed under the Irish Sea for up to 5 miles. The Whitehaven mines were among the most dangerous in the world for pit explosions - one of the worst being in May 1910 when 136 miners lost their lives at Wellington Pit. The first quay was built in 1634 to export coal to Ireland but a growth in shipping between Europe, Africa, America and the West Indies necessitated the building of additional quays, or tongues, to cope with the burgeoning trade. By 1750 Whitehaven was the third most important port in the country after London and Bristol and plans were underway to create a gracious town with elegant Georgian houses, wide thoroughfares and new churches to reflect the town's wealth. Unfortunately, the American War of Independence (1775-1783) severely affected the important tobacco trade with Maryland and Virginia, and Whitehaven's sea merchants faced bankruptcy through contraction of markets and an increase in piracy on English ships.

Although the war hampered trade, it fostered a major shipbuilding industry in Whitehaven that produced over 1000 wooden ships up to the late 19th century. Coal mining continued as an important industry until the 1930s, followed by gradual closure of the pits. In 1943 the Marchon Chemical Works was built on the site of Ladysmith pit and became a leading producer of detergent powders. Its tall chimneys dominated the Whitehaven skyline for around 50 years until closure in 2005 and demolishment two years later. The flattened site is now earmarked for landscape restoration. Today, improvements to the harbour area and sympathetic restoration of the town's Georgian buildings are part of an ongoing regeneration programme, the latest phase of which is to upgrade footpaths, cycleways and signage along the coast to St Bees and improve access to Haig Colliery Mining Museum, Saltom Pit and the RSPB reserve at St Bees. Priory Church of St Mary & St Bega The priory was built by the Normans in 1120 and occupied by Benedictine monks, the west doorway being a magnificent example of Norman architecture.

Opposite is the Dragon Stone lintel which represents a blending of Scandinavian and Norman art. Fragments of other carved stones and medieval grave slabs can be seen inside the church, as well as two sculptures by Josefina de Vasconcellos in the Lady Chapel. Calder Abbey The remains of this 12th century Cistercian abbey stand gauntly amid overgrown vegetation next to the river. It was first founded by monks from Furness Abbey, following a grant of land by Ranulph de Meschines, Baron of Egremont, and consisted of a church, refectory, living quarters, book depository, infirmary and a cloister. The monks even built an ice house (visible in the adjacent field) and operated a corn mill at Calder Bridge. Granny gurner Anne Woods rushed to hospital after pulling world's funniest face | Daily Mail Online comments The winner of the Women's World Gurning Championship was rushed to hospital at the weekend after she collapsed at the end of her performance. Anne Woods was taken to West Cumberland Hospital moments after triumphing at the Egremont Crab Fair in Cumbria.

The 62-year-old's four-minute performance appeared to take its toll and she suddenly fell to the ground outside the compeition room after being declared the winner. Winning face: Anne Woods, 62, was rushed to hospital after her strenuous four-minute performance at the weekend Collpase: Ms Woods was released on Sunday but was unable to collect her prize at the Egremont Crab Fair in Cumbria Male champion gurner Tommy Mattinson, who won the world title for the 12th time last weekend, said: 'I came outside to get some fresh air and Anne was lying on the floor. RELATED ARTICLES Share 'I got help immediately and she was rushed to hospital. 'Being on stage is physically exerting and it also gets very very hot inside the competition room. 'Anne is getting on a bit now, and this won't have helped.' Male champion gurner: Tommy Mattinson said he found Ms Woods lying on the floor after her winning performance Organiser of the gurning championships Callum Scott added: 'Anne was kept in hospital overnight.

'I think it was maybe too much excitement for her, or the room was too stuffy.' Ms Woods was unable to collect her winning prize, so a member of her family did it on her behalf. She was released from Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital later on Sunday though. The town of Egremont is believed to have held its famous Crab Fair every since 1267. Held on the third week in September, the annual event culminates in the famous World Gurning Championships. World's Quirkiest Contests - AOL Lifestyle World's Quirkiest Contests Mar 7th 2011 10:00AM Robert F. Bukaty, AP Not content to simply be the World's Greatest Mom or Dad anymore? Ever tried your hand at worm charming? Bog snorkeling? Cow chip throwing? Surely you've hollered, or lied, or napped in your day, and you've even gurned, whether you know it or not. Not content to simply be the World's Greatest Mom or Dad anymore? Ever tried your hand at worm charming? Bog snorkeling? Cow chip throwing?

Surely you've hollered, or lied, or napped in your day, and you've even gurned, whether you know it or not. These wackiest of annual title bouts are open to all comers, so start practicing now, and maybe you too can be an international champion. After all, someone has to be. 11 PHOTOS World's Quirkiest Contests April | Beaver, OK Part of Oklahoma's annual Cimarron Territory Celebration since 1970, the Cow Chip Throw has put Beaver on the map as the global headquarters of dried bovine dung hurling. Rules: Select your two favorite dried cow chips from the official wagon and, one at a time, launch them (as is; no poo altering allowed). The farthest distance counts as your score. Who can enter: Anyone age 16 or older. There's a men's open, a women's open, a special VIP division, and even a team competition.

April | Tokyo, Japan This 400-year-old competition, originating ostensibly as a method to ward off evil spirits and ensure good health for children, involves sumo wrestlers scaring the bejeezus out of unwitting infants to see which one can be the most vocally unhappy. It's reportedly based on a Japanese proverb that holds that "the child who cries will thrive." Rules: Get yourself picked up, held, bounced and scowled upon by a sumo wrestler, then cry longer and louder than the other baby who's in the same predicament across from you. Who can enter: Babies. June | Spivey's Corner, NC Since 1969, thousands of people have descended every June upon little Spivey's Corner (usual population: 49) for this celebration of North Carolina folk life and the traditional holler. Contest hollerin' usually falls into one of four categories: distress, functional, communicative or pleasure.

Rules: Clearly due to past transgressions, the rules here are more about what you can't do than what you can: Holler your heart out, but no soliciting help from others, no mike-cupping, no drunkenness, no profanity, and no using the stage to seek political office. Who can enter: Anyone. Juniors, teens, and ladies get their own divisions, and there are special whistlin' and conch shell blowin' competitions as well. June | Chipping Campden, England Debuting a shocking four centuries ago as part of the so-called Cotswold Olimpicks, the Shin Kicking Contest is a rural Gloucestershire tradition. While it's evolved from earlier leg-crushing days when combatants' boots were reinforced with steel, it's still a fairly brutal spectacle. Rules: Pack your socks with straw, don the time-honored white smock of the shepherd, grab your opponent by the shoulders, and kick his shins until you can bring him down. Best of three bouts wins. Who can enter: Anyone, especially those with no pressing need to walk for a while.

June | Willaston, England Since 1980, earthworm charmers have been flocking to the little Cheshire village of Willaston for the annual world championships. Competitors are each given a three meter square plot of land with which to work, and for one half hour must try to charm as many crawlers as they can from the ground, using only vibrations. The record? 567. Rules: Garden forks can be used to vibrate the ground, as can any form of music, but digging and drugging (including water, apparently an earthworm stimulant) are strictly forbidden. Who can enter: Anyone. If you don't want to touch the worms yourself, designate someone your "Gillie." July | Sonkajärvi, Finland Though it's now spread to Asia and the United States, the fine art of wife carrying was born in Finland, with its roots believed to be in actual wife stealing. Wives may be carried however one sees fit, but the most common methods are the traditional piggyback, the upside-down back dangle, and the over-the-shoulder throw.

Rules: The wife you carry may be your own, a neighbor's, or "you may have found her farther afield." She must be over 17 and weigh at least 49 kilos (about 108 pounds). Who can enter: Men. Besides the main race, the sprint, and the team event, prizes are also awarded for the most entertaining couple, the best costume and the strongest carrier. August | Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales Oh, the ideas people come up with after a few pints: Legend has it that the concept for bog snorkeling was born in 1976 at the nearby Neuadd Arms pub. Since 1985 it's been an annual competition, wherein people swim the 180 foot length of a thick and filthy water-filled mid-bog trench, braving all manner of weeds and leeches along the way. Rules: No conventional swimming strokes are allowed, so doggie paddles are the order of the day. Snorkel breathing is mandatory. Who can enter: Anyone over 14. Separate contests cover men, women, juniors, and locals, while a special prize goes out to the best dressed.

There's also a mountain bike division, as well as a bog snorkeling triathlon. September | Egremont, England Part of the Cumbrian town of Egremont's annual Crab Fair (which dates back to the 13th century), the Gurning Championship – wherein people make their ugliest face whilst donning a horse's collar – has gradually become the highlight. Twelve time champ Tommy Mattinson will return this year to defend his title. Rules: Stick your head through a braffin (local lingo for a horse collar) and pull your ugliest mug. No facial distorting help allowed via fingers, tape, or rubber bands. Audience applause decides the winner. Who can enter: Anyone. Men, women, and juniors have their own divisions. October | Madrid, Spain First held in 2010, this new competition seeks out Spain's best napper, with the aim of promoting the siesta as "healthy and good for everyone." Contestants bunk down at a busy Madrid shopping mall, and whoever sleeps the most (and does it the most artfully) for 20 minutes is the winner. Rules: Have sleep monitors attached to your body, then off to bed.

Masks and ear plugs allowed. Extra points for outfit elegance, original sleep positions, and loudest snoring. Who can enter: Anyone who sleeps. November | Santon Bridge, England Originating with the tall tales of a beloved local in the 19th century, this Cumbrian tradition has evolved into a national and even international sensation. Actually, it's the biggest and best contest in the history of the world. Yeah, that's the ticket. Rules: In five minutes, spin your greatest yarn. No scripts or prompts allowed. Who can enter: Anyone, but politicians and lawyers are automatically disqualified for being too skilled in the art of fibbery. Up Next Haile Holiday Cottages | Egremont Cumbria View all cottages in this area The small west Cumbrian village of Haile , characterised by traditional sandstone buildings, is just outside the Lake District National Park but consequently has the advantage of being quieter and traffic free. Holidaymakers staying in Haile have the benefit of both the Lake District Mountains and the beaches of the West Coast being within a short drive away. In the immediate surrounding area is Haile Great Wood, an ancient woodland with flora and fauna and designated a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

There are designated footpaths through the woods and onto the adjoining fields. The little church of Haile has Georgian arched windows, medieval walls and saxon quoins. A stained glass window is dedicated to John Ponsenby. The Ponsenby’s have occupied nearby Haile Hall for over six hundred years, the existing Hall dating from 1591. (Psvener states there was a hall on the site from the late 10th century). Lady Mollie Ponsenby died in 2003 at the ripe of 102. A testimony to the pure air and relaxed living at Haile perhaps! Haile Moor Iron Ore mine can be found half mile from the church. The history of mines which were active from 1905 to 1972 can be found at The Florence Heritage Centre, two miles south of the nearby town of Egremont. The small market town of Egremont is only two miles from Haile. It has held a market charter since 1267 and has a wide main street, overlooked by the remains of a Norman Castle. All the facilities of a working town are to be found in and on the outskirts of the town.

Egremont Castle was built about 1130 and stands on a mound above the River Ehen. The ditches are well preserved. Part of the wall and the gatehouse are in a reasonable state of repair. The massive wall at the end of the outer bailey was part of the Great Hall. Lowes Court Gallery shows a wide range of paintings, prints and craft work. There are monthly exhibitions of new and established artists. The Gallery is also the Tourist Information Centre providing local information and an accommodation booking service. The Lowes Court Gallery in Egremont was a derelict coal merchants house that was restored in 1968 to form an exhibition centre for Cumbrian Artists and Craftsmen St Michael & St Mary's Church, a minor gem of Victorian gothic architecture, was built in the Early English style in 1881 to a design by T.L Banks of Whitehaven, replacing an earlier church on the same site. The Egremont Crab Fair and Sports has been established since 1267. The Fair was first held when Henry III gave Egremont its Market Charter - in that charter an annual fair is mentioned and is now held on the 3rd Saturday in September each year.

The Crab Fair and Sports has many traditional events, including the World Gurning Championships in which the competitors pull an ugly face through a Baffin (horses Collar) with the most grotesque face winning. The Crab Fair World Gurning Championships have categories for Male, Female and Junior Gurners. Many competitors travel from all over the Country and indeed come from all over the world. There are many Sporting events including Fell Races, Street Races and Children’s Races as well as Rare Breeds, Dog Shows and a Gymkanha. Over the years more modern events such as Classic Vehicle and Motorcycle Rallies have been added to the spectacle of the Day. Many other events take place during the year and especially the week leading up to Crab Fair Day. Only 15 minutes drive away is the lovely Ennerdale Valley. It is a place of seclusion and tranquility at the very west of the Lake District, with the only lake to have no road running alongside it. It also has one of the largest forests in Cumbria and very few people. There are walks to suit all tastes in Ennerdale, from gentle strolls along the lake to mountain hikes giving you wonderful views of Ennerdale Water and Buttermere.

Wainwright’s famous Coast to Coast Walk goes through the village. There are a number of climbs in Ennerdale, most of them on Pillar Rock, on the rugged north face of Pillar Mountain. This crag offers superb rock climbs at all levels and was one of the first venues for pioneering rock climbers in the Lakes. A thirty minute drive away is Muncaster Castle, Gardens and Owl Centre , home to the Pennington family for over 800 years and with lots going on all year round, especially for children. The gardens are renowned for their stunning rhododendrons in the summer. There is a plant centre at the castle with many specimens for sale. Muncaster Castle is also close to the starting point for the Ravenglass and Eskdale Steam Railway (or 'La'al Ratty'), which is a brilliant day out for all the family. Click here to see all our Haile cottages. Egremont.

Egremont OS Grid ref:- NY 009102 The small market town of Egremont is situated 10km (6 miles) southeast of Whitehaven at at the foot of Uldale Valley and Dent Fell, a few miles from Cumbria's western coast. Egremont has an ancient and fascinating history, the Vikings built a fort there at the end of the last millenium. The Norman name is most likely to derive from the town of Aigremont in Normandy. The town was granted its market charter by King Henry III in 1267. The Scottish King, Robert Bruce sacked Egremont in 1322 resulting in a huge death toll. Egremont Castle Sandstone Egremont Castle, once the seat of the barony of Copeland, stands above the River Ehen and occupies the site of the original Viking fort. It was founded by William de Meschines in around 1130-1140 and took in all over a hundred and fifty years to complete.

After the castle fell into disuse, some of the stone was taken and used to replace the shop and house fronts on the Main Street and in the Market Square some of which date back to the fifteenth century. More on Egremont Castle The interesting sandstone church of Church of St Mary and St Michael was founded in 1220 but was rebuilt in the Early English style in the nineteenth century. It was granted to St. Bees Priory by William de Meschines. The church boasts some fine thirteenth century windows in the chancel. The mining of iron ore on a large scale started in Egremont in around 1830. The Florence Mine, which stands to the south of the town, is the last working deep Iron Ore mine left in Western Europe and produces ore, products for the cosmetics industry and high quality haematite. At the Florence Mine Heritage Centre visitors may see the story of the miners and how they lived, worked, and extracted ore from the ground. The museum contains the clothes they wore, the shovels they used and the clay pipes they smoked.

There is also a reconstruction of a drift, or tunnel, which provides the opportunity to see what mine life was like at the beginning of the twentieth century. Lowes Court Gallery, situated on the main street, also serves as Egremont's Tourist Information Centre, it has constantly changing exhibitions throughout the year. The Gallery is housed in an eighteenth Century listed building and was established in 1972 to promote the appreciation of the visual arts in Cumbria. Egremont is home to an annual Crab Fair, which origins date back to 1267. The fair today combines ancient and traditional events with modern attractions in a unique way, attracting visitors from all over the world. The Crab Fair is particularly famous for the World Championship gurning competition, where contestants pull ugly faces through a horse collar. This years Crab Fair will be held on Saturday 20th September, 2008.

Question: In which Cumbrian town is the annual crab fair held, famous for its gurning competition?
Answer: Egremont